Foster Family Grooms Pets For Adoption Goal: Good Homes For Good Animals

September 05, 1985|by ALICE LESORAVAGE, The Morning Call

Randy and Barbara Kissinger are a foster family.

Since volunteering six months ago for the Northampton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), they have bottle-fed five kittens, hand-fed an adult Doberman that had refused to eat, and cared for a litter of kittens and two puppies.

Their current temporary visitor is a 5-month-old black Labrador-cocker spaniel they call Wrangler.

"Some of these animals have a lot of good potential. We get them used to a home environment, rather than a cage at the shelter," says Randy, who, in the past, has done some fostering for Animals In Distress and Animals Right to Live. He learned about handling large dogs, which he prefers, and guard dogs from family members who had trained them.

In foster care, the animals are given some behavior training and housebreaking, but generally they are given much love and individual attention, the things most lacking in a shelter environment.

Randy says he also begins what he calls "child immunity" training, which means teaching a dog to relinquish a raw hide chewy or something else without growling or reacting negatively.

Animals are watched and evaluated in their reactions to children, other animals and what type of a permanent home would be best for them, whether it be with a family of only adults or adults and children.

"A lot of people don't understand the training and will bring an animal back to the shelter" after a couple days claiming the animal is not trainable. "It takes about a week for an animal just to get used to you and your house," Randy points out.

Foster care makes the animals more adoptable because they can adapt to a home environment, says Barbara, who enjoys fostering cats and kittens. Her cats, Tinker and Puss-Puss, "are pretty much off on their own and don't mind what comes in (to visit)," she says.

But Brutus, the Kissinger's mixed breed golden retriever-Labrador, delights in every new visitor to the household. He thinks each is a new play toy, says Barbara, adding that he loved playing with the kittens and has found a new friend in Wrangler.

Brutus was one of a litter of 12 puppies that the Kissingers' dog had two years ago. The couple gave away all, except for Brutus.

"If that doesn't get you ready for anything . . . " quips Barbara about the litter, when asked how she manages to care for her own pets plus foster animals.

Besides having a "great deal of patience," having the proper facilities for foster care is a plus, she says, noting that their Wilson home has a fenced-in yard in which the animals can exercise, an enclosed porch for the cats and a basement where "they won't destroy anything," while the couple is at work.

"It also helps to have your own business," she says, adding that Randy, who operates a business, is able to walk the dogs at lunch time. Food is provided by the shelter and Barbara supplements their meals with some treats and table scrapes. Veterinary bills are paid by the shelter.

Many animals, especially older animals that have been relinquished, will not survive life in a cage in a shelter, says Randy. A case in point was Rocky, the adult Doberman pinscher the Kissingers eventually had in their care.

The animal would not eat for two weeks while at the shelter, and was skin and bones by the time the couple was asked to take him by Gail Brogan, shelter administrator.

"When we got that dog, he wouldn't eat a piece of steak," says Randy.

"He was so sad. We hand fed him. Gave him love and attention," his wife says, admitting that originally she was "deathly afraid" of that breed of dog, a fear which she overcame. A bond apparently developed between the two. "He was so nice. He'd stand next to you and lay his head in your lap. He was cuddly and loveable," recalls Barbara. The dog was eventually adopted and is "fat" and happy living in Martins Creek, says Randy.

While parting can be difficult and heart wrenching, both Randy and Barbara agree that as a foster family they have a set goal - to try to get good animals into good homes.

Says Randy, "I could give a dog away tomorrow as long as (I know) someone is enjoying that dog. That's why I don't mind giving them up. You see so many happy people with an animal."

"It's a lot of fun," Barbara says about fostering. "It's taking on a responsibility, but not a permanent one. It would be great for older people or a single person who doesn't want the responsibility of a dog or cat all the time."

"We always looking for foster families, says Brogan, pointing out that it's a volunteer job. "Everyone puts something into it besides the TLC," she adds. Responsible people who love animals are the basic criteria for the job. Foster homes are screened by shelter personnel.

For information about becoming a foster family for animals, call the shelter administrator at 253-9666.